Day 3 was a fiasco. I forgot to get out a timer until after my first 10 body rows (subbing 3 for 1 now) so my time is an estimate based on how fast I did the next set of 10 rows.

Week 9 L1 D3: 3 min 15 sec.

I did about my first 20 body rows from an angle slightly less than zero (i.e. my feet were just slightly higher than my head). This resulted in me fudging a few rows until I remembered I could raise my angle. I got 30 rows in, but I don't feel good about 5 or 10 of them. Nevertheless, I'm quite sure it's time for me to move on to the next level with these body rows helping me out. I can definitely feel a different muscle group is tense right now than I usually notice, so I think this will be a positive change for a while. My legs are crying out for a new level, so it's time.

Verdict:
After taking the weekend off, I just don't feel like I should do my workout this morning. I'll wait until tonight or tomorrow morning to give my body a little extra time to heal and then I think I'll add weights to L1 instead of moving to L2 this week. The rings really are hitting new muscles and making a big difference, in which case I think some extra time at this level will be beneficial. I may choose to do my pushups on the rings too. You think that's a good plan, Kevin?

Ok, Guys, today I'm way behind. It's L1D1 instead of D2. I took Mon and Tues off due to lack of time. And I decided to give L1 another week with weights added to squats. Finally, I decided to try doing my pushups on the rings instead of on the floor. Let me know what you guys think about that...should I up the number I do?

I did 30 rounds today. I was slow compared to last week for several reasons -- mainly that I subbed three pull ups on the rings for one. Also I was focusing more on getting my form right than on doing it fast, I took several breaks for interruptions, and IT'S HOT! I did my squats while holding two 5-pound weights. We'll see how I feel in two days. I have to say I like doing pushups on the rings a lot more...I can dip farther down, which I can really feel on the front of my shoulder. I think that'll help me build more strength. However, this workout seemed really easy for me. Maybe it really is time to move to L2.

Ring push ups! Yes. Hard and easy at the same time. It works my shoulders and chest muscles a lot more than regular push ups, yet somehow doesn't feel nearly as exerting. Strange. I wonder if I should increase the number I do. I guess I'll do that next week anyway, since I'm moving up to L2 or bust.

Indeed, I'm impressed on your ring pushups. They really hurt my hands when I try, and my form goes to hell. I pretty much just play around with them, I can't do anything like I can on the ground. Maybe a core thing? awesome work.

Wow...well, maybe I'm doing them wrong? To me it saves time between exercises because I just stand up from my body rows and kind of free fall into a forward angle and then do my push ups.

My hands hurt as well. Nathan made the "rings" out of a rough dowel hung from the ceiling with chains. I need to wrap mine with athletic tape. The first rule for me with using these rings is to take off my wedding ring. If I had it on, I'd have a major blister by now.

But yeah, maybe it is a core thing. I've always had a really strong core, which is strange since I've never been a fit person. I could do more sit ups in high school than any girl in my class, even the athletes. So it drives me crazy that I have this layer of fat over seemingly strong abs.